Operating the slats of window-blinds



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. D. BURDICK, OF NEWBERN, NORTH CAROLINA.

OPERATING THE SLATS OF WINDOW-BLINDS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,520, dated March 20, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J. l). BURDIGK, of Newbern, in the county of Cravenand State of North Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Device forOperating Slats of Vindow-Blinds; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of thisspecication, in which- Figure l, represents a vertical transversesection taken centrally through a window blind, showing the device foroperating the slats with the parts shown in their two eX- tremepositions. Fig. 2, is a sectional view of my improved device, enlargedfrom that of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a modification of Figs. l and 2, showinga rack and pinion introduced in connection with the spring and lever.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the threefigures.

rlhis invention is a simple little device which is to be attached to theinside of window blinds for operating the slats thereof, so that theymay be set at any desired angle and kept in a fixed state, at said angle.the objects of which are too well understood to require explanation.

My invention consists of a lever or pivoted handle, combined with apressure spring, acting against a square or polygonal surface on the endof lever so that when the parts are suitably connected to the slat bar,the slats will be locked in their two extreme positions, and Vat anyintermediate to which they may be set they will remain in a fixed stateas will be hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand iny invention, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings the slats are lettered A., slat bar B, and cross rail atthe bottom of the blind O. The slats are each pivoted to the blind framein the usual manner and are gioved simultaneously by means of the slatD, is a handle or lever pivoted at a, to a plate E, which plate issecured to the cross rail C, directly beneath the slat-bar B, as shownby Fig. l, and in a line with said bar.

The lever' has an enlargement b, on its end with notches cut out,forming teeth as shown by Fig. 2, or this end may be squared off likeFig. 3, or like Fig. 3 with the corners of the enlarged end of the levercut 0E forming live surfaces instead of three as therein shown.

The plate E is constructed as shown by Fig. 2, for receiving under theenlarged head of the lever D, a straight spring G which exerts a strongpressure out against the end of the lever, so that the flat surface ofthe spring (this surface may however be furnished with teethcorresponding with those on the lever) will press hard against the planesurface on the levers end, and secure the lever in the position in whichit is set. This lever is connected with the slat bar B, by a rod F,which rod is pivoted to both, the bar and lever so that by raising ordepressing the lever, or more properly speaking, vibrating it, the slatsA may be opened or closed or set at any desired angle with the bar B.

Now in order to lock the slats, in either an open or closed state thelever D, is 'allowed to fall back of its pivot connection with plate E,so that the axis of the rod F, will be behind the axis of motion of thelever D, when the lever and the slats, are in the two positionsrepresented by Fig. l, in these positions any attempt to move the slatswould have a tendency to lock them tightly.

In Fig. 3, the same principle as that shown by Figs. l and 2, ispreserved, but instead of connecting the rod, F, immediately with thelever, it is connected to a rackbar, which bar is operated by a pinionon the side of the lever.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Fatent, is:

The lever D, constructed as described, and represented, spring G andvibrating connecting rod F, all arranged and combined, forming a newarticle of manufacture.

J. D. BURDICK.

Witnesses:

J. GooDiNG, Jr., WM. H. GUNN.

